CSC cowboys finish 2nd at Gillette, remain top of Region

The Chadron State College men’s and women’s rodeo teams added valuable points to their team standings last weekend at the Gillette College Rodeo with first place performances from Clayton Van Aken, graduate student of Descanso, California, in tie down; Justin Kissack, junior of Gillette, Wyoming, in bareback riding, and Shelby Winchell, graduate student of Scottsbluff, in goat tying.

With a time of 11 seconds flat in the long-go, Van Aken advanced to the short-go on Sunday and won the event with a time of 10.9 and leads the Central Rocky Mountain Region in tie down roping. Van Aken also added 200 points to the team’s score by placing third all-around.

Kissack contributed important points to the team by winning bareback riding and scoring 135 points. Kissack is ranked second in bareback regional standings, trailing 305 points behind Casper College’s Dylan Wahlert, junior of Kim, Colorado.

Winchell continued to benefit the women’s team by winning the goat tying with times of 7.1 and 7.6. Winchell has accumulated 900 points in the region’s goat tying standings and is 430 points ahead of second place, University of Wyoming’s Josee Vogel, sophomore of Pavillion, Wyoming.

Kissack gives credit to the coaches and his teammates for his success, mentioning that the other rough stock riders are always supporting and helping him behind the chutes.

“We are always pushing each other in practice and we have a strong team, and that makes a difference. The next three rodeos I’m wanting to keep pushing myself to the next level and help get this team qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo,” Kissack said.

Winchell commented that she “couldn’t have done it without the help and support of her teammates, coaches, parents, veterinarians, and chiropractor.”

Winchell also stated that she looks forward to “making consistent runs, sticking to the fundamentals, and remaining solid” in the next three rodeos.

Although Gillette College won the rodeo last weekend, the CSC men’s rodeo team still leads the Central Rocky Mountain Region team standings with a total of 3,590 points, thanks to consistent performances from the team. In team standings, the CSC men’s team is ahead of second place Gillette by 1,155 points. The CSC women placed sixth in Gillette, adding 155 points to their 1,225 total, and stand fourth in the region out of 11 teams, behind third place University of Wyoming’s 1,465 points. Three rodeos remain this season.

The next rodeo will be April 8-10 at Colorado State University, Fort Collins.